Peptide mixture and products thereof

Abstract

A method for producing a peptide mixture from a starting protein by (1) adding at least one protease to an aqueous solution of at least one starting protein to hydrolyse the starting protein, (2) measuring the amount of a free amino acid selected from the group consisting of lysine, phenylalanine, leucine and arginine produced during the hydrolysis of the starting protein, (3) calculating the amount of the free amino acid with respect to the total amount of amino acid contained in the starting protein, and (4) terminating the hydrolysis when the calculated amount of the free amino acid with respect to the total amount of the amino acid contained in the starting protein falls within a predetermined range. The inventive method provides a starting protein hydrolysate of uniform and consistent quality.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for producing a peptide mixture, wherein said method for producing a peptide mixture is characterized in that one or more proteases is or are added to an aqueous solution of starting material proteins consisting of one or more proteins to start the hydrolysis of the starting material protein, the amount of a specific amino acid, which is lysine, phenylalanine, leucine, or arginine, freed in the hydrolysate as a result of the hydrolysis is measured over time, the amount of the specific free amino acid is calculated with respect to the total amount of the same amino acid contained in the starting material protein, and the hydrolysis is terminated immediately when the calculated value falls within a specific predetermined range. 
     
     
       2. A method for producing a peptide mixture, comprising: 
       adding at least one protease to an aqueous solution of at least one protein to hydrolyze the protein,  
       measuring the amount of a free amino acid selected from the group consisting of lysine, phenylalanine, leucine and arginine produced during the hydrolysis of the protein;  
       calculating the amount of the free amino acid with respect to the total amount of the same amino acid contained in the protein, and  
       terminating the hydrolysis when the calculated amount of the free amino acid with respect to the total amount of the same amino acid contained in the protein falls within a predetermined range.  
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  that comprises measuring the amount of the free amino acid lysine. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  that comprises measuring the amount of the free amino acid phenylalanine. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2  that comprises measuring the amount of the free amino acid leucine. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2  that comprises measuring the amount of the free amino acid arginine. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2  comprising producing a peptide mixture from milk casein. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 2  comprising producing a peptide mixture from a soybean protein. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 2  comprising producing a peptide mixture from a wheat protein.